Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for delivering measured quantities of nuts or the like from a supply receptacle, and including a unit forming a bottom wall of the supply receptacle and constructed to retain in position a pivotally movable measuring chamber and a spring element which coacts with the measuring chamber to close off the flow of nuts or other items thereinto upon a pivotal dispensing operation.

I Umted States Patent [111 3,568,893 [72] Inventor Henry Becker [56]References Cited 4163 Beverly Blvd, L08 Angeles, Calif. UNITED STATESPATENTS 90004 415,010 11/1889 W1ltse 222/531X [21] P 831,606 2,050,7568/1936 Kubo 222/364X [22] Filed June 9,1969 [45] Patented Mar 9 19712,756,902 7/1956 Becker 221/202 2,778,536 1/1957 Graves etal. 222/363XPrimary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. HandrenAttorney-William P. Green [54] DISPENSER ABSTRACT- A dis Q penser fordelivering measured quantities is Chums 12 Drawmg of nuts or the likefrom a supply receptacle, and including a [52] U.S. Cl. 222/362, unitforming a bottom'wall of the supply receptacle and con- 222/349, 222/517structed to retain in position a pivotally movable measuring [51] Int.Cl G011 ll/l0 chamber and a spring element which coacts with the measur-[50] Field ofSearch 222/362,

ing chamber to close off the flow of nuts or other items thereinto upona pivotal dispensing operation.

1o I l 18 6'7 I q 62 ii 62 56 4 4'7 50 29 44 I 54 l3 l4 11""; I7 55 J2'7 l7 fig h I\ l 20 {I Q8 1 40 l 'Qlv/ l5 lil nrsrsnssn BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to improved dispensing devices fordelivering items such as nuts, confections, or the like to a person orpersons in measured quantities.

in my prior US. Pat. No. 2,756,902, I have disclosed a dispenser of thisgeneral type having a supply receptacle for holding a quantity of thematerial to be dispensed, and from which the items pass by gravity intoa measuring chamber.

- This chamber is mounted to pivot between a first position in which itreceives the items to be dispensed from the supply receptacle and asecond position in which the items are discharged from the measuringchamber to a person using the device. As the measuring chamber pivotstoward its second or dispensing position, communication between thechamber and the supply receptacle is gradually closed off, by movementof a portion of the pivotal chamber toward a spring element, which isresiliently deformable in the dispensing position of the measuringchamber to prevent crushing of any of the item being dispensed as thechamber swings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispenser of the present inventionconstitutes an improvement on the above discussed dispenser of my priorpatent, for greatly facilitating manufacture and assembly of the device,improving the effectiveness with which the various parts such as thepivotal measuring chamber and coacting spring are retained, andotherwise improving the construction and operation of the device. Forexample, in the previous arrangement, the measuring chamber was mountedfor its pivotal movement by a separately formed shaft whose oppositeends projected into recesses in the body of the device. In actualmanufacture of the prior product, it was necessary to form the body ofthe device of two halves meeting along a vertical central line in orderto enable such reception of the ends of the shaft within opposedrecesses in the two halves respectively. Besides the complication ofthis assembly procedure, such formation of the body structure of twohalves meeting along a vertical line produced a relatively undesirableexternal appearance of the body because of the obviousness of thevertical line of connection between the two halves.

To avoid these problems, the present invention teaches mounting of thepivotal measuring chamber in a unique manner eliminating the necessityfor separation of the body of the device along its vertical centralline, and also enabling mounting of the chamber without use of aseparately formed mounting shaft if desired. Specifically, the parts ofthe dispenser are so formed that the unit which forms the bottom wall ofthe supply receptacle can itself function to lock or retain themeasuring chamber in proper position relative to the body of the device,and in a relation enabling the desired pivotal movement of the chamber.More particularly, the chamber may have a bearing surface or surfaceswhich engage and rest on the body of the device in pivotally supportedrelation, and which are retained in proper assembled position on thebody by movement of the bottom wall of the supply receptacle to itsassembled position. Preferably, the bottom wall of the receptacle hasportions which project downwardly at pposite sides of the measuringchamber and which are engageable with the upper and front sides of twopivotal lugs formed on and integrally with the measuring chamber toretain the latter pivotally.

An additional feature of the invention relates to the manner in whichthe same unit forming the bottom wall of the supply receptacle functionsto retain the previously mentioned spring in proper assembled relationwith respect to the body of the device. For this purpose, the spring mayhave a portion which is movable downwardly into intertitting retainedrelation with respect to an upwardly projecting portion of the body,with the bottom wall of the supply receptacle then being movabledownwardly to a position in which it confines the spring against upwardseparating movement from the body of the dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features andobjects of the invention will be better understood from the followingdetailed descrip tion of the typical embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dispenser embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical essentially central section taken on line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken on line 4-4 ofFIG. 3; p

FIG. 5 is fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to, FIG. 7, but showing the manner in which themeasuring chamber is moved into its assembled position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the entire dispenser;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 1 l1l of FIG.5; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front of the devicewith the pivotal chamber removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGS. 1 and3, I have illustrated at 10 a dispenser constructed in accordance withthe invention, and including a body or base structure 11 to which thereis mounted a supply receptacle 12 for receiving a supply of nuts, candyor the like to be dispensed through and from a pivotal measuring chamber13. A unit 14 forms the bottom wall of the supply receptacle, andpreferably is shaped as a funnel for directing the items to. bedispensed downwardly into measuring and dispensing chamber 13.

The body 11 may be formed as a single part, but preferably ismanufactured of a plurality of sections molded separately of resinousplastic material or the like. More specifically, the body may include ahollow lower portion 15 adapted to rest on and be supported by a tableor other surface 16, and to which there is connected an upperessentially tubular body section 17 centered about the main verticalaxis 18 of the device. The sidewall 17' of section 17 may taperdownwardly as shown to the level of a generally horizontal bottom wall19 of that section (FIGS. 3, 10 and 11), which wall is located primarilyat the front of the device, and may be discontinued completely at therear of the device, and forms with a rear portion of vertical wall 17 anopening 21) shaped in correspondence with an upper edge portion 21 oflower section 15 of the body, to fit closely about that upper edgeportion and be permanently secured thereto by appropriate cement. Asseen best in FIG. 10, the upper edge portion 21 of body section 15 isannular except at a forward location 22 where this edge may be recessedinwardly to enable a forward portion of the bottom wall 19 of section 17to function as a ledge 19' (FIGS. 3 and 12) on which the pivotalmeasuring chamber 13 is received. At a location spaced beneath its upperportion 21, the bottom section 15 of the body may have a horizontal wall15' (FIG. 3), containing an opening within which a bottom closureelement 121 is removably connectable by a bayonet connection, so thatany materials such as salt or the like which may fall downwardly fromthe items being dispensed may accumulate in this closure 121 forultimate removal therefrom.

As seen best in FIG. 12, which shows a portion of the dispenser bodywith the measuring chamber removed, the two body sections form togethera front rectangular opening 23 through which the items held inreceptacle 12 are dispensed.

This opening 23 is defined at its opposite sides by two parallelapproximately vertical side edges 24 formed by top section 17 of thebody, and an upper horizontal edge 25 of the opening from which aretaining shield or guard 26 projects and curves downwardly andoutwardly. This guard 26 curves arcuately about the horizontal pivotalaxis 27 of measuring chamber 13, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, and closesthe upper side of the measuring chamber as it swings downwardly towardthe broken line dispensing position of FIG. 3. With reference again toFIG. 12, the previously mentioned horizontal wall 19 and its ledgeportion 19' are located at the bottom of front opening 24 in thehousing, to support the measuring chamber.

Chamber 13 has a bottom wall 28 (FIG. 3) which in the full line positionof FIG. 3 extends approximately horizontally, though curving slightlyupwardly as it advances rearwardly from the location of axis 27, andalso curving slightly upwardly as it advances forwardly from thelocation of that axis. Extending upwardly at its opposite sides, anddisposed perpendicular to pivotal axis 27, the measuring chamber 13 hastwo opposite parallel vertical sidewalls 29, with arcuate peripheraledges 30 centered about axis 27 and of a radius to fit closely withinopening 24 and outwardly projecting arcuate guard or shield 26. At itsunderside, measuring compartment 13 has a bearing portion with acylindrical bearing surface 31 centered about axis 27 and extendingcontinuously across the entire width of chamber 13. This bearing surfacedesirably extends about axis 27 through at least about 180 (FIGS. 3, 6,7 and 8), continuously between the two opposite sidewalls 29 of thechamber. Also, laterally beyond the sidewalls 29, the material of thechamber 13 forms two oppositely projecting stub shafts 32 (FIG. 6),which are cylindrical about axis 27 and of a diameter corresponding tothe diameter of partial cylindrical surface 31, so that theundersurfaces of lugs 32 form continuations of partial cylindricalbearing surface 31, which therefore is continuous from the extremity 33of one of the lugs 32 to the corresponding extremity of the other lug.

To coact with bearing surface 31 of the measuring compartment, ledge 19'of body 11 has an upwardly facing partial cylindrical second bearingsurface 34 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 12), centered about pivotal axis 27 and of adiameter corresponding to that of surface 31, to engage surface 31 insupporting relation (FIG. 7), while enabling downward and forwardswinging movement of measuring compartment 13 to the broken linedispensing position of FIG. 3. This surface 34 has a circular extentless than the circular extent of surface 31, typically having theapproximately 90 circular extent illustrated in FIG. 7, and is spacedrearwardly from but essentially parallel to the two essentially verticalside edges 24 of front opening 23 of the body. Just forwardly of bearingsurface 34, ledge 19' is cut away to form a horizontally elongated slotor opening 35 (FIG. 7) through which mounting lugs or stub shaftportions 32 of the compartment, and the intermediate mounting portion ofthe compartment on which surface 31 is formed, may move upwardly duringassembly of the device. More particularly, as seen best in FIG. 11, theopposite ends of this slot are formed as two notches 36 in ledge 19'extending laterally just behind the edge portions 37 of body section 17adjacent edges 24. The back of slot 35 is defined by a forward edge 38of ledge 19, while the front of the slot opens forwardly except at thelocation of the two end notches 36.

Rearwardly of bearing surface 34, ledge 19' may have an upper surface 39(FIG. 8), which inclines slightly upwardly as it advances rearwardly toengage the undersurface of measuring compartment 13 and support it inthe FIG. 3 position. The compartment is yieldingly urged to thisposition by a coil spring 40 (FIG. 3), which is connected at its upperend to the rear portion of the compartment, and at its lower end to theinterior of body section 15.

Compartment 13 is actuable manually to its broken line dispensingposition of FIG. 3 by means of a handle 41, which is connected at itsopposite ends to the two vertical sidewalls 29 of the compartment, andwhich bridges across the upper side of shield 26. At its back side, thecompartment 13 may have a portion 42 (FIGS. 3, and which curvescylindrically about axis 27 at a radius corresponding substantially tothe radius of peripheral edges 30 of compartment sidewalls 29, andcarries a vertically extending essentially planar fin 43, lying in aplane disposed transversely of axis 27 and intersecting approximatelythe center of the width of the compartment.

Supply receptacle 12 may be cylindrical about vertical axis 18 of thedevice, and be transparent to enable viewing of the items to bedispensed which are contained within the receptacle. The lower edge ofreceptacle 12 is received within upper annular horizontal edge 44 ofbody section 17, and may be cemented to edge 44, with the top of thereceptacle being closed by a removable frictionally retained cover 45.

Unit 14 which forms the bottom wall of receptacle 12 has an annularvertically extending peripheral edge surface 46, which is a close fitwithin the interior of the bottom edge portion of receptacle 12, and maybe cemented thereto in the assembled condition of the dispenser. As thebottom wall unit 14 advances inwardly toward axis 18 from peripheraledge surface 46, it forms a downwardly inclined and advancing supportsurface 47 on which the nuts or other items to be dispensed aresupported, and functioning essentially as a funnel for directing theitems by gravity flow through an inclined rectangular opening 48 formedin the forward portion of unit 14 at the location of chamber 13. Atopposite sides of this opening 48, unit 14 has two vertical paralleldownwardly projecting sidewalls 49, disposed perpendicular to pivotalaxis 27 of chamber 13, and extending downwardly at the outer sides ofand closely confining the two sidewalls 29 of chamber 13. These twowalls 49 have bottom horizontal edges 50 which may be partially receivedwithin two parallel rearwardly extending grooves 50 (FIG. 9) formed inthe ledge at opposite sides of inclined surface 39. At the forwardextremities of these edges 50, sidewalls 49 contain downwardly facingsemicircular notches 51, which in the assembled condition of the deviceare engageable downwardly against the upper sides of pivot lugs 32 ofchamber 13, and serve as bearing surfaces coacting with the previouslymentioned bearing surface 34 (FIG. 7) for confining and locating lugs 32in a manner mounting chamber 13 for only pivotal movement about axis 27.At the forward sides of lugs 32, sidewalls 49 of unit 14 have downwardlyprojecting portions 52 which block forward movement of lugs 32, andpositively prevent the lugs from moving forwardly and then downwardlythrough notches 36 of slot 35.

Along the rear edge 53 of rectangular inclined opening 48 in receptaclebottom wall unit 14, this unit has a downwardly extending wall 54disposed arcuately about pivotal axis 27, to movably and closely receiveportion 42 of chamber 13. At the center of this wall 54, unit 14 hasvertically extending walls 55 defining a guideway closely receiving andconfining fin portion 43 of chamber 13. In the nondispensing full lineposition of FIG. 3 of chamber 13, fin 43 is retracted downwardly withinthe guideway formed by walls 55, whereas upon movement of the chamber 13to the broken line dispensing position of FIG. 3, fin 43 moves upwardlyout of the guideway to contact the nuts or other items at the top offunnel unit 14, and agitate those items just enough to prevent theirlodging or sticking in nonfeeding conditions.

As the measuring chamber 13 swings forwardly and downwardly toward itsbroken line position of FIG. 3, the rear edge of the chamber movesforwardly toward a downwardly extending resilient leaf spring 56 (FIGS.3 and 5), to gradually close the filling space between the chamber andspring, and in this way permit only a predetermined single measuredquantity of items to be dispensed upon each forward swinging motion ofthe chamber. Flexure of the spring 56 prevents damage to the items orconfections being dispensed while still attaining the desired shutoffaction. Spring 56 is mounted by providing the spring with an upperportion 57 which extends downwardly in a vertical plane at a locationwithin the lower forward portion of receptacle 12. To coact withmounting portion 57 of the spring, body section 17 carries at a locationwithin its interior an upwardly projecting spring mounting portion 58,taking the form of two spaced planar fingers 59 (FIG. 4) disposed withina first vertical plane, and a third intermediate planar finger 60disposed within a second parallel but slightly offset plane, with thespacing between finger 60 and fingers 59 being just wide enough toreceive and closely confine the downwardly projecting mounting portion57 of the spring. The upper edges of the two fingers 59 maybe notchedslightly to provide short projections 61 extending upwardly at oppositesides of the spring for confining the spring against lateral movement.After extending upwardly about the upper ends of fingers 59, the springextends downwardly and forwardly at 62 to a lower curving end of thespring located within measuring chamber I3.

Extending about fingers 59 and 60 and the upper portion of spring 56,the receptacle bottom wall or funnel member 14 has a hollow portion 62,having a horizontal undersurface 63 which is engageable downwardlyagainst fingers 59 and the spring in a manner effectively confining thespring on the upper ends of the fingers and preventing removal of thespring therefrom. This portion 62 of unit 14 may define a part of thepreviously mentioned rectangular opening 48 of FIG. 2, and for thispurpose may have upwardly extending parallel vertical sidewalls 64forming essentially upward continuations of previously mentionedvertical walls 49, with arcuate shoulders or edges 65 following thecontour of the peripheral arcuate edges of measuring compartment walls29. At its front side, portion 62 of unit 14 may have a partialcylindrical vertical front wall 66 aligned vertically with and forming acontinua.- tion of peripheral surface 46 of unit 14. At its rear side,portion 57 may have an inclined wall 67 (FIG. 3) extending downwardly ashort distance and terminating at and defining an edge 68 of opening 48in FIG. 2.

In assembling the dispenser, body sections 15 and 17 may first becemented together along their engaging edges, and the measuringcompartment 13 may then be slipped rearwardly through the front opening23 of the housing (FIG. 12), with pivotal lugs 32 first being moved tothe full line position of FIG. 8, and then being moved upwardly throughnotches 36 and then rearwardly to the broken line position of FIG. 8.During such movement of the pivot lugs and the measuring compartmentwith which they are molded integrally, the arcuate shield portion 26 ofthe body may be resiliently deflected slightly to allow the-desiredinsertion of the measuring compartment into position. The spring 56 maynext be slipped downwardly to its FIGS. 3 and 4 position of interfittingengagement with fingers 59 and 60, following which unit 14 is moveddownwardly to its assembled FIG. 3 position, so that its dependingsidewalls 49 may engage the upper sides of pivot lugs 32 of themeasuring chamber, in the FIGS. 6 and 7 position, and lock those pivotlugs against forward removal from bearing engagement with bearingsurface 34 of the body. Also, the downward movement of unit 14 causesportion 62 of that unit to engage the upper sideof the top portion ofspring 56 in i is attached to the underside of the measuring compartmentand to the interior of the body, and closures 21 and 45 are I detachablysecured to their coacting parts.

To use the device, receptacle 12 is filled with nuts, confections, orany type of items to be dispensed, cap 45 is then attached to the top ofthe receptacle to close it, and a user may then dispense into his hand ameasured quantity of the items within the receptacle by manuallyactuating handle 41 and the attached chamber 13 from the full lineposition of FIG. 3 to the broken line position of that FIG., in whichthe contents of the chamber fall downwardly from the forward end of thechamber and past shield 26. When the chamber 13 is returned to its fullline position by coil spring 40, a next measured quantity of the itemswithin receptacle l2 falls downwardly into the rear portion of chamber13, to be dispensed upon the next actuation of the chamber.

While a certain specific embodiment of the present invention has beendisclosed as typical, the invention is of course not limited to thisparticular form, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variationsas fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A dispenser comprising a body structure, a receptacle carried by saidbody structure for containing items to be dispensed, a unit forming abottom wall of said receptacle for supporting said items and containingan opening through which said items may be discharged from thereceptacle, a pivotal measuring chamber for receiving a quantity of saiditems from the receptacleand dispensing them to a recipient, said bodystructure having bearing surface means formed thereon on which saidchamber is supported pivotally, said measuring chamber having pivot lugsprojecting in opposite, directions, and said unit havingportionsjengageable with said lugs in a relation confining said lugspivotally and blocking removal of the chamber from the body structure.

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said bearing surfacemeans include upwardly facing bearing surfaces on said body structure onwhich said lugs are supported pivotally.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said body structure isshaped forwardly of said lugs. to pass said lugs rearwardly duringassembly of the dispenser, said portions of said unit being receivedforwardly of said lugs and blocking forward withdrawal thereof.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said body structure haspassages forwardly of said .lugs through which said lugs pass duringassembly of the dispenser, said portions of said unit being receivedforwardly of said lugs and blocking withdrawal thereof through saidpassages.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said bearing surfacemeans include upwardly facing bearing surface areas,

on the body structure on which said lugs are pivotally. supported, saidbody structure containing; slots forwardly of said bearing surface areasthrough which said lugs are movable upwardly during assembly of thedispenser for subsequent movement rearwardly onto said bearing surfaceareas, said portions of said unit being received forwardly of said lugsand preventing forward withdrawal thereof to said slots.

6. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said portions of saidunit are movable downwardly during. assembly to positions above saidlugs for blocking upward movement thereof and confining said lugspivotally.

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said portions of saidunit are movable downwardly during assembly to positions above and infront of said lugs to block both upward and forward movement thereof.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said bearing surfacemeans include upwardly facing bearing surface areas on the bodystructure on which said lugs are pivotally supported, said bodystructure containing slots forwardly of said bearing surface areasthrough which said lugs are movable upwardly during assembly of thedispenser for subsequent movement rearwardly onto said bearing surfaceareas, said portions of said unit projecting downwardly at oppositesides of said pivotal measuring chamber and having lower edges receivedabove and forwardly of said lugs in a relation confining said lugspivotally and preventing upward or' forward movement thereof.

9. A dispenser comprising a body structure, a receptacle carried by saidbody structure for containing items to be dispensed, a unit forming abottom wall of said receptacle for supporting said items and containingan opening through which said items may be discharged from thereceptacle, a pivotal measuring chamber for receiving a quantity of saiditems from the receptacle and dispensing them to a recipient, a springlocated near said opening and toward which said chamber moves indispensing said items and adapted to flex to prevent damage to the itemsby the chamber, and a spring mounting structure carried by said bodystructure, said unit having a portion received opposite said mountingstructure in a relation confining and retaining a mounting portion ofsaid spring therebetween.

10. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion ofthe spring is received above said mounting structure, and said portionof said unit is received above said mounting structure in a relationblocking upward withdrawal of the spring therefrom.

11. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion ofthe spring projects downwardly into interfitting confined relation withrespect to said mounting structure.

12. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion ofthe spring projects downwardly into interfitting confined relation withrespect to said mounting structure, said mounting structure having aplurality of upwardly projecting arms engaging opposite sides of saidmounting portion of the spring.

l3. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion ofthe spring projects downwardly into interfitting confined relation withrespect to said mounting structure, said mounting structure having aplurality of upwardly projecting arms engaging opposite sides of saidmounting portion of the spring, said portion of said unit having adownwardly facing surface essentially above and opposite the upper endsof said arms and confining said spring between said arms and saidportion of said unit.

14. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said measuring chamberhas pivot lugs projecting therefrom, and said unit has portionsengageable with said lugs in a relation confining said lugs and blockingremoval of the chamber from the body structure.

15. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said measuring chamberhas pivot lugs projecting therefrom, and said unit has portionsprojecting downwardly at opposite sides of said chamber and engageableat lower edges thereof with said lugs in a relation confining said lugspivotally and blocking upward and forward movement thereof.

1. A dispenser comprising a body structure, a receptacle carried by saidbody structure for containing items to be dispensed, a unit forming abottom wall of said receptacle for supporting said items and containingan opening through which said items may be discharged from thereceptacle, a pivotal measuring chamber for receiving a quantity of saiditems from the receptacle and dispensing them to a recipient, said bodystructure having bearing surface means formed thereon on which saidchamber is supported pivotally, said measuring chamber having pivot lugsprojecting in opposite directions, and said unit having portionsengageable with said lugs in a relation confining said lugs pivotallyand blocking removal of the chamber from the body structure.
 2. Adispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said bearing surface meansinclude upwardly facing bearing surfaces on said body structure on whichsaid lugs are supported pivotally.
 3. A dispenser as recited in claim 1,in which said body structure is shaped forwardly of said lugs to passsaid lugs rearwardly during assembly of the dispenser, said portions ofsaid unit being received forwardly of said lugs and blocking forwardwithdrawal thereof.
 4. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in which saidbody structure has passages forwardly of said lugs through which saidlugs pass during assembly of the dispenser, said portions of said unitbeing received forwardly of said lugs and blocking withdrawal thereofthrough said passages.
 5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, in whichsaid bearing surface means include upwardly facing bearing surfAce areason the body structure on which said lugs are pivotally supported, saidbody structure containing slots forwardly of said bearing surface areasthrough which said lugs are movable upwardly during assembly of thedispenser for subsequent movement rearwardly onto said bearing surfaceareas, said portions of said unit being received forwardly of said lugsand preventing forward withdrawal thereof to said slots.
 6. A dispenseras recited in claim 1, in which said portions of said unit are movabledownwardly during assembly to positions above said lugs for blockingupward movement thereof and confining said lugs pivotally.
 7. Adispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said portions of said unit aremovable downwardly during assembly to positions above and in front ofsaid lugs to block both upward and forward movement thereof.
 8. Adispenser as recited in claim 1, in which said bearing surface meansinclude upwardly facing bearing surface areas on the body structure onwhich said lugs are pivotally supported, said body structure containingslots forwardly of said bearing surface areas through which said lugsare movable upwardly during assembly of the dispenser for subsequentmovement rearwardly onto said bearing surface areas, said portions ofsaid unit projecting downwardly at opposite sides of said pivotalmeasuring chamber and having lower edges received above and forwardly ofsaid lugs in a relation confining said lugs pivotally and preventingupward or forward movement thereof.
 9. A dispenser comprising a bodystructure, a receptacle carried by said body structure for containingitems to be dispensed, a unit forming a bottom wall of said receptaclefor supporting said items and containing an opening through which saiditems may be discharged from the receptacle, a pivotal measuring chamberfor receiving a quantity of said items from the receptacle anddispensing them to a recipient, a spring located near said opening andtoward which said chamber moves in dispensing said items and adapted toflex to prevent damage to the items by the chamber, and a springmounting structure carried by said body structure, said unit having aportion received opposite said mounting structure in a relationconfining and retaining a mounting portion of said spring therebetween.10. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion ofthe spring is received above said mounting structure, and said portionof said unit is received above said mounting structure in a relationblocking upward withdrawal of the spring therefrom.
 11. A dispenser asrecited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion of the springprojects downwardly into interfitting confined relation with respect tosaid mounting structure.
 12. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in whichsaid mounting portion of the spring projects downwardly intointerfitting confined relation with respect to said mounting structure,said mounting structure having a plurality of upwardly projecting armsengaging opposite sides of said mounting portion of the spring.
 13. Adispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said mounting portion of thespring projects downwardly into interfitting confined relation withrespect to said mounting structure, said mounting structure having aplurality of upwardly projecting arms engaging opposite sides of saidmounting portion of the spring, said portion of said unit having adownwardly facing surface essentially above and opposite the upper endsof said arms and confining said spring between said arms and saidportion of said unit.
 14. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, in whichsaid measuring chamber has pivot lugs projecting therefrom, and saidunit has portions engageable with said lugs in a relation confining saidlugs and blocking removal of the chamber from the body structure.
 15. Adispenser as recited in claim 9, in which said measuring chamber haspivot lugs projecting therefrom, and said unit has portions projectingdownwardly at opposite sides of said chamBer and engageable at loweredges thereof with said lugs in a relation confining said lugs pivotallyand blocking upward and forward movement thereof.